Posted on 02/11/2013 8:32:29 AM PST by EveningStar
Pope Benedict was cheered by conservatives for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity but liberals accused him of turning back the clock on reforms and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.
The 85-year-old German-born pontiff announced on Monday he would step down at the end of the month because of the effects of old age meant he was unable to complete his ministry. It was a decision that stunned Church officials and Catholics around the world, but one that he had hinted at in the past.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I understand that. I also know that 2000 years of many steep traditions are hard to change in the Roman Catholic Church. I hope you are right, but I remain skeptical.
Only when they "reach out" to slice your throat.
God knows all the details, and He alone. His plan is Perfect, as is His timing. We waste valuable prayer time worrying (I'm learning this lesson the hard way this month, so I know what I'm talking about here! LOL!) when we need the firm understanding and confidence in the loving care of the Mighty Ruler and Creator of all that exists. He has a plan. That's enough for me. I'm just going to pray that I get to see it advance HIS GLORY.
Why skeptical? We saw the result of an incapacitated pope after the sex scandal broke. We have heard that Benedict urged John Paul II to resign, and he got to see that slow death upclose. Meanwhile, there was no one at the rudder. The liberals were livid when he was chosen pope and they have dragged their feet on even reform he has made.
The odds of a liberal pope now are slim to none.
It will be hard to replace Pope Benedict though; he sets a high bar.
I just HATE when that happens!!
Pope Stephen VI (896–897), who had his predecessor Pope Formosus exhumed, tried, de-fingered, briefly reburied, and thrown in the Tiber.[1]
Pope John XII (955–964), who gave land to a mistress, murdered several people, and was killed by a man who caught him in bed with his wife.
Pope Benedict IX (1032–1044, 1045, 1047–1048), who "sold" the Papacy
Pope Boniface VIII (1294–1303), who is lampooned in Dante's Divine Comedy
Pope Urban VI (1378–1389), who complained that he did not hear enough screaming when Cardinals who had conspired against him were tortured.[2]
Pope Alexander VI (1492–1503), a Borgia, who was guilty of nepotism and whose unattended corpse swelled until it could barely fit in a coffin.[3]
Pope Leo X (1513–1521), a spendthrift member of the Medici family who once spent 1/7 of his predecessors' reserves on a single ceremony[4]
Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), also a Medici, whose power-politicking with France, Spain, and Germany got Rome sacked.
Patience.
It's up to 26 now...
But higher if the conclave looks to Latin America or Africa for a replacement, as has been speculated. Regardless, no Pope has had his predecessor looking over his shoulder for 600 years, and that one had his predecessor tossed into prison. I doubt the next Pope will have that option.
It seems whenever we elect a new Pontiff the left salvates with hope that the new Pope will mean the Church will sanction gay marriage and abortion and contraception. Not likely. A new Pope scares me that something will happen...like state interference with the Papal election process either flagrantly or covertly. Dictators, in a creepy sort of way, are obsessed with the power and influence of the Church. They want it for themselves.
From what I've heard African Catholics are more conservative theologically than the Western Europeans or North Americans. If that's true, there will be a greater chance of changes in doctrine if a "Westerner" is the next pope. But it's hard to say. I suspect there could be big changes whoever accedes.
Philip Pullella has written a lot of articles. From what I can tell he has it for Benedict's or John Paul II's Catholic Church. This article is just so much paint by the numbers stuff. Any pope is going to be seen as "conservative" and "dogged by scandal" by the secular left. Pullella didn't have to think or research much to come up with such an expected and unsurprising boilerplate verdict.
That'd be a real pair of jokers!
...the old Nazi fart was just a man like anyone else, get it?
Pope Benedict has no veto over the selection; however, he did select a lot of those doing the selection. And I believe his legacy will include bringing the Church back from some of the over-reaching implementation of Vatican II.
I think I will be praying and trusting in the Holy Spirit - which brought us Pope Benedict!
Thank you very much for your reply, much appreciated.
Pope John Paul II was in far worse health, and did not resign. As smart as Pope John Paul II was, Pope Benedict was even probably even smarter, and more rigorously well-versed in the issues impacting the Church, and he knows what a terrible consequence this action will have.
ABC radio news blurb captured the liberal spin against Ratzinger in about three lines. He’s stepping down but is still power hungry because he will influence the next pope’s election from behind the scenes. He was too conservative and a more progressive new pope should be chosen. This point was made through audio of a college girl saying Catholicism should permit women priests.
A perfect gem of liberal agitprop, and thoroughly typical of ABC radio news.
Happy Drain, aren’t you missed on huffingtonpost?
I call them liberals, not haters. These are people with no life and no beliefs except that they have this uncontrollable urge to say they are not Caflix
Hippy Drain is walking around all bent out of shape because he posted a bigoted thread about B XVI and I helped to get it pulled before more than 3 people replied.
AHhhh... I see.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.